FLAG FLYING POLICY Approved and Adopted at a Meeting of the Parish Council on 14 October 2019

WINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

FLAG FLYING POLICY Approved and adopted at a meeting of the Parish Council on 14 October 2019

Flag flying is under the jurisdiction of the Department for Culture, Media and Sports. Government Guidance recognises that flags are a very British way of expressing joy and pride – they are emotive symbols which can boost local and national identities and strengthen community cohesion.

Flags are also symbols that are often open to interpretation and have the potential to create tension between community groups whose opinions may differ. Flags are also treated as advertisements for the purposes of the Planning Regime and, as a result, some require formal consent.

The following sets out Wingham Parish Council’s Flag Flying Policy which, where possible, is based on Government guidance.

Standard Conditions

All flags must: • Be maintained in a condition that does not impair the overall visual appearance of the site; • Be kept in a safe condition; • Have the permission of the owner of the site on which they are displayed (this includes the Highway Authority if the sign is to be placed on highway land); • Not obscure, or hinder the interpretation of official road, rail, waterway or aircraft signs, or otherwise make hazardous the use of these types of transport, and • be removed carefully where so required by the planning authority.

Flag Categories

There are three categories of flag: 1. Flags which can be flown without consent of the local planning authority; 2. Flags which do not need consent provided they comply with further restrictions; 3. Flags which require consent.

Wingham Parish Council will generally only fly flags that can be flown without consent of the local planning authority. The full list of flags that do not require consent is as follows:

1. Any country’s national flag, civil ensign or civil air ensign; 2. The flag of the Commonwealth, the European Union, the United Nations or any other international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member; 3. A flag of any island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village within the United Kingdom; 4. The flag of the Black Country, East Anglia, Wessex, any Part of Lincolnshire, any Riding of Yorkshire or any historic county within the United Kingdom; 5. The flag of Saint David; 6. The flag of Saint Patrick; 7. The flag of any administrative area within any country outside the United Kingdom; 8. Any flag of Her Majesty’s forces; 9. The Armed Forces Day flag.

Wingham Parish Council may also on occasion fly flags that comply with further restrictions, for example the horizontal striped rainbow flag.

The Union Flag

There is no Flag Act in UK law and the Union Flag is the national flag by long established custom and practice, rather than by statute. Wingham Parish Council reserves the right to fly the Union Flag every day, however the Union Flag is usually flown in particular on the following days:

• 9 January Birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge • 20 January Birthday of the Countess of Wessex • 6 February Her Majesty’s Accession • 19 February Birthday of the Duke of York • 1 March St David’s Day (in Wales only, see note 1) • 10 March Birthday of the Earl of Wessex • 11 March Commonwealth Day (second Monday in March, see note 5) • 17 March St. Patrick’s Day (in Northern Ireland only, see note 4) • 21 April Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen • 23 April St George’s Day (in England only, see note 1) • 2 June Coronation Day • 8 June Official celebration of Her Majesty’s birthday • 10 June Birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh • 21 June Birthday of the Duke of Cambridge • 17 July Birthday of the Duchess of Cornwall • 15 August Birthday of the Princess Royal • 10 November Remembrance Day (second Sunday in November, see note 2) • 14 November Birthday of the Prince of Wales • 20 November Her Majesty’s Wedding Day • 30 November St Andrew’s Day (in Scotland only, see note 1)

The Union Flag will be flown the correct way up.

The Union Flag at Half Mast

Wingham Parish Council reserves the right to fly the Union Flag at half mast on the following occasions: 1. From the announcement of the death of The Sovereign, except on Proclamation Day, when they are flown at full mast from 11am until sunset; 2. The funeral of members of the Royal Family, subject to special commands from Her Majesty in each case; 3. The funeral of foreign rulers, subject to special commands from Her Majesty in each case; 4. The funeral of members of Prime Ministers and ex-Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, subject to special commands from Her Majesty in each case.

Half mast means the flag is flown two-thirds up between the top and bottom of the flag staff.

Guest Flags

Flags that are not specifically included in the above Flag Policy will not be flown without the prior approval of Wingham Parish Council.

Any application for the flying of a guest flag should be made in writing to Wingham Parish Council, who will consider any request for the flying of a guest flag as long as it does not contradict the principles of this Policy. Requests for the flying of guest flags may be granted provided: 1. They are made in the spirit of displaying universal allegiance, support or respect or are to celebrate an international, national or local occasion; 2. It is appropriate for Wingham Parish Council to display support on behalf of its community; 3. Flags are not used for the purposing of commercial advertising; 4. There are no conflicts with other flags or Guest Flag requests.

Policy Review

Wingham Parish Council will review this Policy periodically and when there are changes in Government guidance.